This is our latest
conversational series using simplified language explanations. Vocabulary is
presented in the context of a continuing story in our new texts, En Realidad, Books
One and Two. Concentration is on learning vocabulary and phrases with heavy
practice in dialog exercises. Books are also available for purchase separately and come
with complete answer keys.

In the En Realidad story, Spanish teacher, Renata
Fernández and her wacky friend and fellow Spanish teacher, Patricia Brown travel to Spain
looking for the true identity of Librada de la Vega, who disappeared during the Spanish
Civil War. The story has a surprise ending in Book Two.

In this series based
on the Destinos videos, we utilize a balanced approach to
language learning for adults, which we call Sight First. After early
adulthood, our learning shifts from an auditory dimension to visual. We teach you
the four basic language skills in each lesson. We start with the skill of reading,
progress to writing, then listening and finally speaking. Thus
the same material is properly balanced in the four different skill areas necessary in
order to gain mastery of the language.

Students who wish to go beyond the
simplified series will transfer in to a higher level in this series.

The Skill of Reading

A conversation-based vocabulary of
individual words and pre-cast phrases derived from practical everyday situations of work,
travel and common communication terminology is presented at the beginning of each lesson.

Various written exercises including graded
readings develop the skill of reading, which includes learning the words and idiomatic
expressions of conversational Spanish.

The Skill of Writing

The mechanics of sentence construction are
presented from the first lessons. A tongue-tied student results from deficiency in
the skill of sentence construction. Vocabulary and language items are presented with
exercises on sentence construction.

The Skill of Listening

The listening skill is practiced by viewing
the episodes of the acclaimed Destinos Television Series.
These are half-hour video episodes to which each Practical Spanish
lesson is matched. This bridges the gap from the way the language looks on paper to how it
sounds when spoken. The videos are viewed either in class or outside class at the
student's option.

The Skill of Speaking

For most adult students this is the most
difficult skill. Each lesson concludes with a section called De improviso...
. These are role-playing situations between student and teacher based on the
testing scheme of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

In these structured role plays drawn from
situations in the video, all the vocabulary and language material practiced throughout the
lesson comes together. Situations include talking on the telephone, ordering meals,
taking a cab, buying a ticket on the train, getting a hotel room and various problems that
arise in travel and life in general.

The texts used are Practical
Spanish Book One by John St. Clair for the beginning series of courses,
(Spanish 1 - 7); Practical Spanish Book Twoby John St. Clair
for the intermediate series (Spanish 21-26) and Temas y lemas by
John St. Clair for the advanced series (Spanish 31 - 36)

This conversational course of eight
weeks in length is for owners and supervisors of landscape, construction, construction
clean up, janitorial services and property management concerns.

This course helps you learn the language in
the context of the vocabulary, phrases and situations common to these professions.
Workplace vocabulary includes, employer-employee relations, assignment of work, work place
rules and actual terminology used in these professions. The situations are common
workplace problems.

Other basic vocabulary and language
constructions follow the same Sight First methodology described above.

The text used is De Veras:
Spanish for Use on the Job by John St. Clair

Rates vary depending on class size.
Discounts available for larger classes. Classes are held at SFLI location in the
Scottsdale Airpark.

In this program, the entire time is spent in
the Spanish language. If you have studied Spanish in the past but need to upgrade
your speaking skills and usable vocabulary, this program is for you. Concentrated blocks
of time are used for this program, such as a full day (6 hours) on successive Saturdays or
other blocks that from time to time become available during business hours.

The En Realidad Books One and Two
are used in this program. See below.

The novella, El Bastón, contained within the Temas y
Lemas text, goes back to the Spanish Civil War and traces the character of Librada de
la Vega and her half-Basque husband, Narciso Carrillo Arizgoiti, as they face the
inevitable moral conflicts of war.

Through the story
an intermediate to advanced review of the Spanish language is presented. More
vocabulary and phrases are presented in the context of the story as well as more advanced
role play situations at the end of each chapter.